Amazon.com description: Product Description: Earth's Evolving Systems: The History of Planet Earth, Second Edition explores the complex processes and interactions that have shaped our planet. Employing a systems perspective, this introductory text covers topics such as the lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere, and discusses how these systems, plate tectonics, and life have interacted with each other and evolved through geologic time. This approach to Earth's history integrates the study of modern Earth systems with past ones piquing students' interest in the process. No other text bridges the gap between traditional historical geology and the behavior of Earth systems, and does so with higher quality art and illustrations. Capturing the dynamism of our planet's fascinating history, Earth's Evolving Systems: The History of Planet Earth, Second Edition provides the bedrock to understanding this exciting science.